Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gas-containing brain abscesses are very rare. Two mechanisms may be responsible for the presence of intracavitary gas: bacterial fermentation or penetration through an abnormal communication between the exterior and the intracranium. The need to search for this potential communication is considered an indication for open surgery. We report the case of a surgically treated gas-containing brain abscess originating from an undiagnosed chronic otitis media. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 54-year-old man developed acute neurologic deterioration, becoming comatose within 24 hours. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a gas-containing cystic mass in the right temporal lobe. Urgent surgical decompression revealed the presence of an abscess, which was excised. During the same surgery, we performed a radical mastoidectomy, removing a previously undiagnosed attic cholesteatoma. Neither procedure revealed a discontinuity of the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Cultures grew a mixed flora. Antibiotics were administered for 6 weeks. The patient made a complete neurologic recovery. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates that otogenic brain abscesses may contain gas due to fermentation of nonclostridial bacteria.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 271-273 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Surgical Neurology |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2002 |
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Keywords
- Brain abscess
- Craniotomy
- Gas
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Surgery
Cite this
Gas-containing otogenic brain abscess. / Paolini, Sergio; Ralli, Giovanni; Ciappetta, Pasquale; Raco, Antonino.
In: Surgical Neurology, Vol. 58, No. 3-4, 09.2002, p. 271-273.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Gas-containing otogenic brain abscess
AU - Paolini, Sergio
AU - Ralli, Giovanni
AU - Ciappetta, Pasquale
AU - Raco, Antonino
PY - 2002/9
Y1 - 2002/9
N2 - BACKGROUND: Gas-containing brain abscesses are very rare. Two mechanisms may be responsible for the presence of intracavitary gas: bacterial fermentation or penetration through an abnormal communication between the exterior and the intracranium. The need to search for this potential communication is considered an indication for open surgery. We report the case of a surgically treated gas-containing brain abscess originating from an undiagnosed chronic otitis media. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 54-year-old man developed acute neurologic deterioration, becoming comatose within 24 hours. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a gas-containing cystic mass in the right temporal lobe. Urgent surgical decompression revealed the presence of an abscess, which was excised. During the same surgery, we performed a radical mastoidectomy, removing a previously undiagnosed attic cholesteatoma. Neither procedure revealed a discontinuity of the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Cultures grew a mixed flora. Antibiotics were administered for 6 weeks. The patient made a complete neurologic recovery. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates that otogenic brain abscesses may contain gas due to fermentation of nonclostridial bacteria.
AB - BACKGROUND: Gas-containing brain abscesses are very rare. Two mechanisms may be responsible for the presence of intracavitary gas: bacterial fermentation or penetration through an abnormal communication between the exterior and the intracranium. The need to search for this potential communication is considered an indication for open surgery. We report the case of a surgically treated gas-containing brain abscess originating from an undiagnosed chronic otitis media. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 54-year-old man developed acute neurologic deterioration, becoming comatose within 24 hours. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan disclosed a gas-containing cystic mass in the right temporal lobe. Urgent surgical decompression revealed the presence of an abscess, which was excised. During the same surgery, we performed a radical mastoidectomy, removing a previously undiagnosed attic cholesteatoma. Neither procedure revealed a discontinuity of the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Cultures grew a mixed flora. Antibiotics were administered for 6 weeks. The patient made a complete neurologic recovery. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates that otogenic brain abscesses may contain gas due to fermentation of nonclostridial bacteria.
KW - Brain abscess
KW - Craniotomy
KW - Gas
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036762978&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036762978&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0090-3019(02)00804-2
DO - 10.1016/S0090-3019(02)00804-2
M3 - Article
VL - 58
SP - 271
EP - 273
JO - Surgical Neurology
JF - Surgical Neurology
SN - 0090-3019
IS - 3-4
ER -